What is "Cellulose Acetate" - Definition & Explanation

Filaments spun from an acetic acid ester of cellulose that have been coagulated or solidified from the spinning solution when pushed through a spinneret.

An acetic acid ester of cellulose. It is obtained by the action, under rigidly controlled conditions, of acetic acid and acetic anhydride on purified cellulose usually obtained from cotton linters. All three available hydroxyl groups in each glucose unit of the can cellulose be acetylated, but in the material normally used for plastics, it is usual to acetylate fully and then lower the acetyl value (expressed as acetic acid) to 52 to 56% by partial hydrolysis. ...